Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that certain “anti-national” elements are trying to divide society for their own selfish gains, stressing the importance of recognizing their motives and coming together to thwart their plans.

While virtually addressing a gathering of devotees at the 200th anniversary of the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Vadtal, Gujarat , Prime Minister Modi said that unity and integrity are crucial for making India a developed nation by 2047.

“Unity among citizens and integrity of the nation is important to make India a developed nation by 2047. But, unfortunately some people are trying to divide our society on caste, religious, linguistic, men-women, village-city lines due to their vested interests or due to their narrow-mindedness,” PM Modi said.

“We have to understand the seriousness of the intentions of these anti-nationals and will have to unite to defeat them,” PM Modi said in a video conferencing.

Modi said the first key step to make India a developed nation is “atmanaribharta” (self-dependence).

He urged all saints of the Swaminarayan sect to rally every citizen of the country in taking a collective pledge to transform India into a developed nation.

On the occasion, Modi informed the devotees that his association with the Vadtal Swaminarayan Temple dates back to his days as the chief minister of Gujarat.

The Centre recently issued a coin to commemorate 200 years of the Swaminarayan Temple in Vadtal, he said.

“Lord Swaminarayan came before us at a time when our country was weakened due to slavery and people used to blame themselves for the situation. At such a time, Lord Swaminarayan and other saints awakened our self-respect, gave us a new spiritual energy and rejuvenated our original identity,” Modi said.

The prime minister also said the demand for skilled Indian youth will increase manifold in the future.

“Today, majority of the world leaders whom I meet express a desire that Indian youth should come and work in their countries. Our youth are capable of fulfilling the needs of India as well as the world,” he said.

Stressing the need to preserve the cultural heritage of India, Modi said his government believes in the mantra of “Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi” (development along with preservation of heritage).

Referring to the Kumbh Mela declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO some years back, Modi urged the Swaminarayan sect to make the people of other countries understand the importance of the religious congregation and why it is celebrated.

He said the upcoming Kumbh Mela, to be held between January and February next year in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh is “Purna Kumbh” as it will be celebrated after a gap of 12 years.

“Your temples are situated across the world. I urge you to spread awareness about this Kumbh Mela through your temples. You should also make foreigners understand the importance of Kumbh Mela and why it is being celebrated. Each temple in the world should try to bring at least 100 foreigners to the Kumbh Mela. I know that you can do it,” Modi said.

(with agency inputs)